London IB Workshop - DP Theatre

Category 1 & 2 – Combined

Perfect for teachers who are new to the DP Theatre course as well as those with some experience looking to deepen their practice.

• This workshop builds a strong foundation in the IB mission and philosophy and how they underpin the DP Theatre course. You'll explore the subject guide, syllabus, and assessment requirements in depth, including opportunities to practise marking student work.
• Through collaborative exploration, you'll deepen your understanding of teaching, learning, and assessment, develop strategies to strengthen feedback and grading practices, and design a course that integrates authentic assessment while supporting student success.

Category 3 — Advanced Practice

For theatre educators who want to deepen their expertise in a specific area of DP Theatre practice.

Collaboratively Creating Original Theatre

• This workshop focuses on ensemble devising and collaborative creation, exploring practical methodologies for generating, structuring, and refining original performance work.
• You will engage in hands-on exploration of the devising process, from initial ideas through to performance.
• You will leave with clear strategies and practical tools to guide students toward confident, original, assessment-ready work for the Collaborative Theatre Project.

Not sure which Category is right for you? Download our Category Selection Guide to help you choose the workshop that best matches your experience and professional development goals.

This ISTA IB DP Theatre workshop includes two live theatre performances as part of the programme, chosen to complement and enrich your learning across the three days.

PRODUCTION 1

Performance Title: Darkling

Venue/Theatre: Bush Theatre, London

Date and times: Monday 28 September 2026 / 7:30 PM

Description: I walk home. The skyline is changed. The skeleton is fast becoming a huge metal creature. They have built a behemoth here.

Bhopal, India, 1984. Born under a blue sky in a city of lakes, a girl grows up with her father and sister, always together. But as a giant factory rises over the town, the land begins to change — and one night tears everything apart.

Written by Titas Halder and directed by Matthew Xia (Artistic Director of Actors Touring Company), this ferocious new play explores the human fallout of the real 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, in which a leak of methyl isocyanate from a pesticide plant killed an estimated 20,000 people. A Bush Theatre and Actors Touring Company co-production.

Link to website

Content warnings / self-care guide (Bush Theatre)

PRODUCTION 2

Performance Title: Into The Woods

Venue/Theatre: Noël Coward Theatre, London

Date and times: Tuesday 29 September 2026 / 7:30 PM

Description: We all know how the story begins. But what happens after it ends?

Once upon a time…

The Baker and his wife. A Witch with a curse. A boy and his cow. A girl in a red cloak. A maiden with long flowing hair. A servant covered in cinders. All journey deep into the dark woods.

Fresh from a critically acclaimed run at The Bridge Theatre, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s 'stunning' (The Times) Into The Woods transfers to the West End this September. Directed by Jordan Fein (Fiddler on the Roof), with set and costume designed by Tom Scutt (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club), this joyful, witty and beautiful new production has been hailed as “a triumphant musical mash-up of fairytales” (The Standard).

Link to website

ISTA works with IB-approved workshop leaders who bring deep expertise in both theatre education and the DP Theatre course. All of our workshop leaders are experienced DP Theatre educators with active backgrounds in theatre-making, curriculum design, and artistic practice.

They are skilled facilitators who understand the realities of teaching the IB DP Theatre course in schools, and are committed to making professional learning practical, relevant, and genuinely inspiring.

Each of our workshops includes a focused, practice-based session led by a professional theatre artist, designed to extend your artistic practice, skills, and perspective as an educator within the IB DP Theatre course. Rooted in areas such as directing, devising, performance, or design, these sessions emphasise transferable approaches, embodied practice, and creative processes that deepen understanding through doing.

Working practically and collaboratively, you will engage in guided exploration, short performance tasks, and reflective discussion. You will leave with practical ideas, adaptable strategies, and new artistic approaches that can be applied directly to your teaching and to the demands of the DP Theatre course.

IB Workshop bookings are made via our online registration form.

To complete your booking:

• Provide key participant and school details, including your name, contact information, dietary or accessibility needs, and whether you're an ISTA member.
• Select the appropriate workshop category (Category 1, 2, or 3), and share your IB teaching experience.
• Confirm your agreement to ISTA's Terms & Conditions, including media consent and account creation.
• Once submitted, your booking details are saved and automatically shared with event organisers to ensure a smooth experience.

• Any bookings or amendments taken in the six weeks prior to the workshop are subject to availability.
• Once booked and invoiced the registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable as per event terms and conditions.
• You're welcome to book up until 21 September 2026 However, if you book after 31 August 2026 we can't guarantee a theatre ticket or a hard copy of the teacher workbook, though we'll do everything we can to provide a suitable alternative.

Workshop Schedule

• Start: 9:00am on Monday 28 September 2026
• End: 12:30pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026

The workshop runs from 9:00am – 5:00pm on Days 1 and 2, with a full programme of collaborative sessions, practical exploration, and reflective learning.

On Day 3, the workshop runs from 9:00am – 12:30 pm, focusing on assessment, reflection, and next steps before the event closes.

Please note: The IB requires participants to attend all sessions on all days in order to receive their certificate of completion. If you have an unavoidable scheduling conflict, please contact the Event Manager prior to the start of the workshop.

Click here to take a look at a sample workshop schedule to get a feel for how the three days are structured.

IMPORTANT: Participants must attend ALL workshop sessions in their entirety in order to receive IB Certificate of completion. Please plan your trip accordingly.

• Arrival: Plan to arrive in London by the evening of Sunday 27 September 2026.
• Departure: Do not plan to leave the Lyric Hammersmith before 12:30pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026
• Visas: Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas to enter the UK
• Need visa support? Contact your Event Manager.

Accommodation

• Participants must book their own accommodation for this event.
• We recommend booking a hotel near the Lyric Hammersmith.

The event fees include tea and coffee breaks each day, and lunch on Days 1 and 2.

Participants should bring:

• Current IB DP Theatre Subject Guide (ask your IB DP Coordinator if you do not have one)
• Comfortable, movement-friendly clothing
• Laptop (with charger) or notebook and pen for note-taking
• Smart casual attire for both evening theatre performances

Please note: ISTA and the host venue are not responsible for lost or damaged personal items.

All registered participants will receive an E-Programme approximately two weeks before the workshop.

This digital guide includes:

• Workshop venue details, full schedule, and timings
• Facilitator and artist biographies
• Key information to help you prepare and make the most of your ISTA learning experience

At the workshop, you will receive a printed teacher workbook to use during sessions and for future reference, along with access to workshop resources.